Washing machine



Nov. 30, 1954 K. CLARK WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 8,1948 2 .m a w wfi w m R 8 a I I IT 9 m 4 V 2 a m 8 4 M. 7 0 2 n HI 9 x 3a f M I W u m -1--I /m 2 4 I l 6 8 0 Z l 4 9 m m D I B Nov. 30, 1954 K.CLARK WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 8, 1948 United StatesPatent Office r 2,695,510 Patented Nov. 30, 1954 WASHING MACHINE KendallClark, Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Application July 8, 1948, Serial No. 37,573 18 Claims. (CL 68-43) Thisinvention relates to a washing machine and more particularly to amachine of the automatic type.-

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved form ofagitator in which the clothes in the machine are agitated withoutcausing any objectionable tangling.

it is another object of this invention to provide a wash-- ing machineof the automatic type-hr which the agitator scoops the water and clothesradially inwardly along the bottom of the tub and then upwardly so as tocirculate the clothes Within the tub.

Another object of this invention is to provide a washing machine of theautomatic type inwhich the agitator causes floating dirt and South, ifany, to' collect adjacent the Wall of the tub, so that when thespinningoperation tion, as will become. more apparent from the followingdescription.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a first embodiment of myinvention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a second ormodified agitator construction which may be substituted for the agitatorconstruction shown in Figure. l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view showing the relationshipbetween the agitator drive shaft and the agitator supporting shaftin thefirst embodiment of my invention;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view showing the relationshipbetween the drive shaft and the agitator support and taken at rightangles to" the corresponding construction shown in Figures 1 and 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the relationship betweenthe agitator drive shaft and the agitator supporting shaft in the secondtype of agitator construction shown in Figure 2- of the drawings;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the man'- nerin which thebasket adjusts itself during the spinning operation to compensate forany uneven distribution of the clothes in the basket; and

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a radial element 45 of ahyperbolic figure. of revolution generated by the axis of theagitatorsupporting. shaft shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4 while inoperation.

Referring now to the drawings wherein there is illustratedtwo preferredembodimentsof my invention; reference numeral 10 designates generallythe main outer housing for the washing machine'withinthe upper end ofwhich a clothes washing tubor basket 12 is disposed. A circular troughordrain'basin 1 3'is arranged beneath the tub 12' as shown. Referencenumeral 1'4 designates a stationary hollow housing and bearing supportelement which is resiliently supportetlat its lower end on the:stationary brackets 16' by means of a plurality of rubber orrubber-likegrommets: or mounting elements 18'. The-upper endofthe hollow element14isprovided' with a'snubbing plate 19 which is frictionally engagedbythe snubber pads 221- which are? supported-2 by means of suiti 2 ableresilient brackets 29 carried by the trough or drain basin 13, as shownin Figure 1-. This construction permits. relative lateral snubbingmovement between the element 14 and the stationary trough 13 for apurpose to be explained more fully hereinafter.

A hollow shaft 24, is supported withinthe element 14 by means of theball bearing assemblies 17 and 21 andhas secured thereto a drive pulley26 at its lower end. The drive shaft 24 is drivingly connected to thebasket or tub 12 through the. rubber or rubber-like member 2-8 which isvulcamzed or otherwise secured to the lower portion of the basket 12 andalso. to the adapter 15 secured to the upper portion of the shaft 24.The member 28 thus constitutes a universal joint for connecting thebasket 12 to the shaft 24. g

A solid shaft 40 is arranged to rotate within the hollow shaft 24 andisadapted to operate the agitator 50. A motor and pulley arrangement tobe described more fully hereinafter is adapted to operate the agitatordrive shaft 40 at a relatively slow speed during the clothes washingperiod and to operate the tub or basket spinning shaft 24 at arelatively high speed for removing water from the clothes after theclothes have been washed.

Onefof the major problems in designing a Washing machine in which thebasket or tub is spun at a high rate of speed for removing the waterfrom the clothes is that of compensating for uneven loading of theclothes within the machine. The purpose of the resilient connection 28is to automatically allow the basket to. shift its, axis so as tocompensate for such uneven loading without causing excessive vibrationwhen the basket spins at the desired high speed necessary foreffectively removing the Water fromthe clothes. The resiliency of therubber or rubber-like element 28 is selected such that it is capable. ofholding the basket substantially upright when the basket is at rest andwhen filled with water and clothes, but it is made sufiicientlyyieldable to permit the basket to tilt during the spinning operation.The construction and arrangement of the connection 28 and the resilientmounting for the hollow main bearing support 14 is such that the: basketis held upright at slow basket speeds but isallowed to shift at higherspeeds so as to compensate for uneven distribution of load within thebasket and thereby avoid excessive vibration and strain on the washingmachine housing.

Figure 6 somewhat. diagrammatically illustrates the principle ofoperation involved. In this figure the referencejnumerals 29 and 31designate unequal quantities of clothes within the tub 12. Thedottedline 35 indi cates the plane of maximum polar inertia when thebasket is spinning. Reference numerals 35 and 37 desig-" nate'respectively the axis of spin and the axis of sym metry of the basketand the basket driving shaft. Reference numeral 28a is used to'designate the flexible joint 28 which allows the basket to tilt relativeto the axis of the drive shaft. The axis of symmetry of the drive shaftdesignated by the reference numeral. 37 is not necessarily in directalignment with the axis of sym metry of the basket. By virtue of theabove described arrangement, the basket shifts automatically so as tocompensate for uneven loading and thereby prevents excessive vibrationand strain on the parts.

Any' unbalance in load occurs in the lower portion of thebasket and theplane of maximum polar inertia would thus be inclined to the axis ofsymmetry of the basket.

When the basket and its load then begins to spin about their mutualcenter of gravity with such an unbalanced load, there is a tendency forthe plane of maximum polar inertia to become perpendicular to' the axisof spin and in so doing the common axis of symmetry bonds at theuniversal joint, with the result that' the axis of shaft 14 is forcednearer to the axis of spin. This reduces the gyration .of thesupporting. tubular shaft 14 and conse-' quently less vibration istransmitted through snubbing disc 19 and the snubber pads 22 to thetrough or drain basin 13.

A conventional shaft seal of the type commonly used in refrigeratingsystems is provided at 39 for preventing the escape of water between therotating shaft 24 and the bottom of the water compartment. Suitable ballbearings are used throughout, as shown, for supporting low shaft 24 andhas secured thereto at its lower end a V-belt pulley"42 which is used inoperating the main agitator generally designated by the referencenumeral 50. The upper end of the solid shaft 40 has secured thereto acrank arm 44 which in turn carries the agitator supporting shaft 46 towhich the agitator assembly 50 is rotatably supported by means of asuitable ball bearing assembly 52 and agitator support 54. The shaft 46is preferably anchored in the crank arm 44 so as not to rotate relativeto the arm 44 but so as to rotate about the axis of the shaft 40. Thelongitudinal axis of the shaft 46 lies in a plane parallel to but offsetfrom a plane passing through the longitudinal axis or axis of rotationof the shaft 40.

As indicated in Figures l and? of the drawings, the agitator supportingshaft 46 is arranged with its axis inclined to, but not intersecting,the axis of shaft 40. A line 43 (see Figure 4) designates the positionof minimum distance between the axes of the shafts 46 and 40. The axesof the'agitator supporting shaft 46 and the drive shaft 40 lie in twoparallel planes respectively which are mutually perpendicular to theline 43. The length of line 43 may be-constructed at any length fromzero to slightly less than the radius of the tub. The minimum distanceposition between the axes of shafts 40 and 46 (designated by radius 43)may be located at any vertical position on the axis of shaft 40 orprojected extensions thereof; for example, Figures 3 and 4 show it belowthe crank arm 44 and Figures 2 and 5 show it above the crank arm. Theagitator assembly 50 is prevented from actually rotating about its ownaxis by means of the flexible element 28 secured to the upper end of thehollow shaft 24, as shown in Figure 1, or it may be'rotated as itgyrates when in contact with fabrics in the basket as in theconstruction shown in FigureZ.

By virtue of the above described arrangement, it will be observed thatrotation of the main drive shaft 40 will cause the agitator S0 to gyratein a circular path about the axis of the shaft 40 without rotating inunison with the shaft 40. The construction and arrangement of the driveshaft 40 and the agitator supporting shaft 46 are such that as the shaft40 is rotated, the projection of each and every point on the agitator 50on a vertical plane through the axis of shaft 40 will travel in anelliptical path relative to the vertical plane, as illustrated by therepresentative ellipses 60 and 61 shown indotted lines in Figure 1 ofthe drawings. Thus it will be observed that the periphery of theagitator member 66 describes an elliptical-path as projected onavertical plane as shown in Figure 1, while the ,axis of the agitatorassembly describes a hyperbolic figure of revolution 45, one radialelement of which appears as indicated by the reference numeral in Figure7. The arrangement of shaft 46 or 46a with respect to the shaft 40 maybe referred to as a hyperbolic crank, due to the fact that every pointin the axis of the shaft 46 or 46a generates a circle about thelongitudinal axis of the shaft 40. The. loci of points formed by theintersection of this family of circles with any plane lying in thelongitudinal axis of. the shaft 40 forms a hyperbolic curve. In otherwords, the axis of shaft 46 or 46a may be referred to as a generatrixrevolving about the shaft 40 generating or sweeping out a figure ofrevolution which is a hyperbolic figure; hence, it seems the termhyperbolic crank very, aptly describes the arrangement of shafts 40 and46 or 46a. i

In order to increase the effectiveness of the agitator in producingcirculation of liquid within the tub 12, there is provided a pair ofrubber or rubber-like members 64 and 66 which serve to assist inpropelling the wash water in the tub. The elliptical motion of theperiphery of the agitator members 64 and 66 is such that the water willtend to flow in the direction indicated by the arrows when the agitatoris rotated in the proper direction or opposite to the arrows if theshaft is rotated in the opposite direction. The agitator causes both ascooping action and a wobbling action. It will be noted that with thewater traveling in the direction indicated by the arrows, any scum orfoam which might collect on the top of the wash water will tend tocollect adjacent the outer edge of the basket, so that when the basketis caused to spin for drying clothes, the scum will be car ried alongwith the first water to leave the basket.

The exact construction of the basket 12 may be varied considerablywithout departing from the spirit of my invention. For purposes ofillustration, I have shown the basket made up in two parts which havetheir meeting edges partially telescoped together with clearance betweenthe edges, so as to provide an outlet 11 for the water during thespinning operation. Baskets of this type are well known and need nofurther description. The basket 12 constitutes an inner water receptacleand the upper portion of the main housing 10 constitutes an outer waterreceptacle for receiving the water leaving the receptacle 1 12 duringthe spinning operation.

For purposes of illustrating the invention, I have shown an electricmotor for supplying power for operating the agitator 50, for spinningthe basket 12, and for operating the water pump 84, whereas an internalcombustion engine or any other type of power unit could be used. In thepreferred embodiment, the electric motor 80 is provided with an uppershaft extension 82 to which a water impeller or pump 84 is secured so asto forcefully pump water out of the trough 13 to the line 86 to which ahose or the like may be attached for conveying the water to any desiredpoint such as a drain or to a point of reuse. The motor 80 is alsoprovided with a lower shaft extension 88 to which there is secured apulley supporting element 90 which is keyed to rotate with the shaft 88at all times. A combination clutch plate and pulley flange 92 is securedto the element 90, so as to rotate with the element 90 at all times. Acomplementary pulley flange 96 is slidably supported on the element 90and is biased into belt engaging position by a coil spring 98 whichserves to maintain the proper tension of the belt 94 which is arrangedfor driving the V-belt pulley secured to the lower end of the agitatordrive shaft 40. The arrangement is such that the agitator shaft 40 isdriven by the motor 80 at a relatively slow speed whenever the motor 80is operating. A floating V-belt pulley 100 is slidably and rotatablysupported on the element 90 and is provided with friction material 102on its opposite sides as indicated. A pulley shifting arm 104 isprovided which serves to shift the pulley 100 axially. The arm 104 iscontrolled by the solenoid assembly 106 which when energized serves toshove the pulley 100 andits associated friction material 102 intodriving engagement with the rotating clutch flange 92 which rotates withthe motor shaft at all times. Consequently, whenever the solenoid 106 isenergized, the hollow shaft 24, to which the spinner tub 12 is secured,will be driven through the medium of the pulley 100, the V-belt 108, andthe pulley 26 which is secured to the shaft 24.

When it is desired to discontinue the spinning operation, the solenoid106 is deenergized, with the result that the V-belt pulley 100 will bemoved upwardly'by the spring 110, so as to cause disengagement betweenthe pulley 100 and the rotating element 92 and so as'to cause the pulley100 to engage the stationary brake surface 112 which is fixed to thestationary motor housing. In other words, the floating pulley 100rotates with the-motor shaft 88 when the solenoid 106 is energized so asto force the pulley 100 downwardly into driving engagement with theclutch element 92 but is prevented from rotating whenever the solenoid106 is deenergized and the spring 110 forces the floating pulley out ofdriving engagement with the clutch 92 and into engagement with the brakesur-' face 112. V

In the form of invention illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4 of thedrawings, the agitator shaft 46 has a wider sweep at its upper end thanat its lower end, with the result that the upper surface of the water inthe tub- 12 is rather violently pushed around. 'In Figure 2 of thedrawings, I have shown a modified agitator arrangement: in which all ofthe parts are identical to the corresponding parts shown in Figure l ofthe drawings except that the crank arm 44a, which supports the agitatorshaft 4611 on the main drive shaft 40, is arranged to support theagitator shaft 46a at a different angle, as best illustrated in Figure 5of the drawings. Also the rubber-like element 28b does not include anupwardly extending portion for preventing relative rotation between theagitator 50 and the agitator supporting shaft 46a. By arranging theagitator shaft 46a so as to taper inwardly toward the central axis ofthe shaft 40, the upper end of the agitator does. not agitate: the:water to; as; great. an. extent: as. the agitator: arrangement shownimliigureil of? the drawings; Inasmuch as the: crankianmz at the. baseof? the: agitator shown. in: Figure 2: is: substantially" the same asthe: crank am in: the-constmctiont shown; in Figure l of the draw,iugsg. the: amount of agitation. produced. adjacent the? bot.- ton ofthe tub will be: much the same as: the agitation produced in; the.bottom. of: the tub; in Figure 1.. The length: of the: crank arms 4'4.or 44a;may' be varied; somewhat depending upon the amount: of.agitation. desired. When. looking: at. right angles to; the.construction. shown. inFigure 5-, one would; see a: construction:similar to the construction showrn im Figure 4'- of the drawinga thatthe: agitator supporting". shaft. 46a would appear as being in: aiplaneparalleh to tlimaxis of? the drive shaftt tit when viewed in the: onedirection.

Figure7- schematically shows the: relationship; between the agitatordrive shafti. the agitator. supporting: shaft. 46,, and: also showsthehyperboloid: generated by/ the member 46 as; it rotates about. theaxis: of shaft; 405.

Although: the preferned= embodiment of' thedevice. has been described,it will be understood that. within: thepurview of. this invention.various changes may! bemade: in. the form, details proportiom andarrangement of parts, the combination thereof. and mode. of operation;which generally statediconsist ima. device capable ofl carrying out theobjects set forth; as disclosed and defined; in the appended claims.

Having, thus; described myinvention, I; claim;

1. In a washing, machine, an outer water: receptacle,

an: inner Water receptacle: adapted. to. receive material to be: washed,an: agitator disposed within saidinnen receptacle,, an. agitator drive;shaft, means for supporting said drive shaft within said outerreceptacle; a crank. arm on. said drive shaft arranged. withinsaidiinnerr receptacle,.said; crank arm having its longitudinala axislying; in a: plane parallel to butofifsefi froma planecont-aining. theaxis of rotation of said drive shaft, and an agitatonsupportcarried bysaid crank arm and projecting upwardly in a direction; towardsvthe axisof. rotation. of said; shaft, said agitator support. being, arrangedtooperate-said agitator.

2. In a washing machine; an outer receptacle, an inner receptacle:adapted to receive material to be washed, an agitatordisposed withinsaid inner receptacle, an; agitator drive: shaft means for supportingsaid drive shaft: within said: outer receptacle, a lateral extensiorr onsaid drive shaft. arranged within said inner receptacle, said lateralextension including a hyperbolic crank shaft the axis. of which lies-ina plane parallel to butofiset from aplane containing the. longitudinalaxis of thedrive shaft; and am agitator support carried by, said.lateral extension and; projecting, upwardly in a direction; away fiiomthe central axis of said shaft.

3. In a washing machine, an outer receptacle, an inner receptacleadapted to receive material to be washed, an agitator disposed withinsaid inner receptacle, an agitator drive shaft, means for supportingsaid drive shaft Within said outer receptacle, a lateral extension onsaid drive shaft arranged within said inner receptacle, an agitatorsupport carried by said lateral extension and projecting upwardly, saidagitator support having its longitudinal axis lying in a plane parallelto but offset from a plane containing the axis of rotation of the driveshaft, so that the longitudinal axis generates a hyperbolic surface ofrevolution, and means for resiliently supporting said agitator withinsaid inner receptacle.

4. In a washing machine, an outer receptacle, an inner receptacleadapted to receive material to be washed, an agitator disposed Withinsaid inner receptacle, an agitator drive shaft, means for supportingsaid drive shaft within said outer receptacle, a lateral extension onsaid drive shaft arranged within said inner receptacle, an agitatorsupport carried by said lateral extension, said agitator support havingits longitudinal axis lying in a plane parallel to but offset from aplane containing the axis of rotation of the drive shaft, so that saidlongitudinal axis generates a hyperbolic surface of revolution when thedrive shaft is rotated, and means for resiliently supporting saidagitator within said inner receptacle, said last named means includingmeans for preventing rotation of said agitator about its own centralaxis.

5. In a washing machine, an outer receptacle, an inner receptacleadapted to receive material to be washed and having walls slopingupwardly and outwardly towards the outlet thereof, an agitator disposedwithin said inner 1 wobble and scoop,

w; shaft arranged Within 6 receptacle, an: agitator drive shaft;. saithdrive shaft within said outer:- receptacle; a lateral extension onzsaid:drive shaft; arranged: within saithinner: receptacle, am agitatorsupport: carried: bysaid laterall extension, said agitator: supporthaving: its? longitudinal a, plane axis lying in. a. plane parallel. to;but: oifseb from; containing the axisof rotation. of, the: drive shafts;so: that" said longitudinal axis generates; a. hyperholic' isurfacex ofrevolution when the drive: shaft is. rotated; means. for resilientlysupporting: said: agitator: withim said. inner receptacle,. said lashnamed means including means for. preventing rotation of said agitator;about its own: central axis,. a prime mover;. means; for. supplying;power from. said. prime mover. to: said. drive shaft, and! torquetransrnittings means. between. said; prime mloven and. said inner:receptacle whereby: said inner: receptacle. mayr'be: causedtto: spin forcentrifugally/ removing water therefrom:-

6. In a. washing; machine, a basket adapteditoe contain material. to: bewashed and. a. Washing: fluid; an? agitator disposed within said-basket,and means. for operating: said agitator including. a drive: shaft.having a. horizontally disposed offset: within said. basket and' havingiam agitator supporting, shaft carried. by said' ofiset, said lastmentioned shaft and the offset. causing; the agitator: to both saidagitator: including means formed? thereon: for scooping. thewashingfluidx radially inwardly adjacent the bottom of said: basket, theaxis;of. said agitator supporting shaft. moving; in. such a mannen asto: generate a hyperbolic: surface. of revolutiona.

7 Ina washing machine, an outer water" receptacle, aninner waterreceptacle: adapted to receiver material: to: be washed, an agitatordi'sposed'within said inner recep tacle, an agitator drive; shaft, meansfor supporting said drive shaftwithin said outer receptacle, a: crank?arm on.

said drive shaft arranged within; saidzinner receptacle, and.

an agitator. support. carried by. said*- crank. arm: and projectingupwardly in a direction: towards, but not inter.- secting, theaxis: of.rotation: of, said. shaftg. said". agitator support being: arrangedtooperate; said agitator;

8-. In aswashingmachine, an=outer receptacllean inner: receptacle.adapted to. receive material; to be: washed, an agitator disposed withinsaid; inner receptacle, anagitator: drive shaft-,.means for supportingsaid-.dnive'shaftt withini said. outer receptacle; a. lateral. extensionom said drive.-

said inner: receptacle, and] an. agrtatorv support. carried by said]lateral; extensionv and: pro jecting, upwardly in a direction away;from, bun notintersecting, the central axis; of said shaft,. so. thatthe: longi'r tudinaL axis of. said support generatess a hyperbolic;surface of revolution: when the driveshaft is: rotated.

9.. In. combination a: driving elementt. a driven: ele'i. ment, power.transmitting; means between said elements: comprising a hyperboliccrank.

10. In a washing machine, a basket adapted to contain material to bewashed and a washing fluid, an agitator disposed within said basket,means for supporting said basket and said agitator in an elevatedposition, means for operating said agitator including a verticallyextending drive shaft having a horizontally disposed oifset within saidbasket and having an agitator supporting shaft carried by said offset,the mounting of said supporting shaft being such that the longitudinalaxis thereof generates a hyperbolic surface of revolution when the driveshaft is rotated.

11. In a washing machine, an outer receptacle, an inner receptacleadapted to receive material to be washed, an agitator disposed withinsaid inner receptacle, an agitator drive shaft, means for supportingsaid drive shaft within said outer receptacle, a laterally disposedextension on said drive shaft arranged within said inner receptacle, anagitator support carried by said lateral extension, said agitatorsupport having its longitudinal axis lying in a plane parallel to butoffset from the plane containing the axis of rotation of the driveshaft, said agitator support being so mounted that as the drive shaft isrotated the longitudinal axis of said agitator support generates ahyperbolic surface of revolution, a prime mover, and means for supplyingpower from said prime mover to said drive shaft.

12. In a washing machine, an outer receptacle, an inner receptacleadapted to receive material to be washed, an agitator disposed withinsaid inner receptacle, an agitator drive shaft, a prime mover forsupplying power to said drive shaft, means for supporting said driveshaft within said outer receptacle, a lateral extension on said meansfor supporting;-

drive shaft arranged within said inner receptacle, an agitator supportcarried by said lateral extension, the longitudinal axis of saidagitator support generating a hyperbolic surface of revolution when thedrive shaft is rotated, and means for resiliently supporting saidagitator within said inner receptacle, said last named means includingmeans for preventing the rotation of said agitator about its own centralaxis.

13. In a washing machine an outer receptacle, a clothes basket disposedwithin said outer receptacle, an agitator disposed within said basket, afirst shaft arrangement for driving said agitator, a prime mover fordriving said shaft, a second hollow shaft concentric to said firstshaft, a unitary resilient member having a first portion connected tosaid second shaft and said basket so as to form a resilient connectionbetween said second shaft and said basket and having a second portionyieldably connecting said agitator to said second shaft, an agitatorsupporting means connected to the first shaft but offset therefrom, saidagitator supporting means including a shaft the longitudinal axis ofwhich generates a hyperbolic surface of revolution when the first shaftis rotated.

14. In a washing machine an outer receptacle, a clothes basket disposedwithin said outer receptacle, an agitator disposed within said basket, afirst shaft for driving said agitator, a prime mover for driving saidshaft, a second shaft concentric to said first shaft, a unitaryresilient member having a first portion connected to said second shaftand said basket so as to form a resilient connection between said secondshaft and said basket and having a second portion yieldably connectingsaid agitator to said second shaft, said agitator having itslongitudinal axis lying in a plane parallel to but offset from the planecontaining the axis of rotation of said first shaft, said agitator beingso mounted that as the first shaft is rotated the longitudinal axis ofthe agitator generates a hyperbolic surface of revolution.

15. In a washing machine, an outer receptacle, a clothes spinning basketdisposed within said outer receptacle and having water outlet meansarranged adjacent its outer periphery at a point above the normal waterlevel within said basket, an agitator disposed within said basket, afirst shaft arrangement for driving said agitator, a prime mover fordriving said shaft, a second shaft concentric to said first shaft, aunitary resilient member having a first portion connected to said secondshaft and said basket I so as to form a resilient connection betweensaid second shaft and said basket and having a second portion yieldablyconnecting said agitator to saidsecond shaft, and supporting means forsupporting the agitator upon the first shaft so that as the first shaftis rotated the agitator is gyrated, said supporting means including ashaft pro- 8. jecting into the agitator, the longitudinal axis of saidsupporting shaft generating a hyperbolic surface of revolution when thefirst shaft is rotated.

16. In a washing machine, a basket adapted to contain material to bewashed and a washing fluid, an agitator disposed within said basket,means for supporting said basket and said agitator in an elevatedposition, means for operating said agitator including a drive shafthaving a horizontally disposed offset within said basket and having anagitator supporting projection carried by said offset, the longitudinalaxis of said supporting projection being so disposed that as the driveshaft is rotated the longitudinal axis of the projection generates ahyperbolic surface of revolution, a second hollow shaft concentric withthe drive shaft, and a flexible connection between said hollow shaft,said agitator and said basket.

17. In a washing machine, a basket adapted to contain material to bewashed and a washing fluid, an agitator disposed within said basket,means for supporting said basket and said agitator in an elevatedposition, means for operating said agitator including a first driveshaft having a horizontally disposed offset within said basket andhaving an agitator supporting projection carried by said offset, thelongitudinal axis of said supporting projection being so disposed withrespect to the drive shaft that as the drive shaft is rotated thelongitudinal axis generates a hyperbolic surface of revolution, a secondshaft comprising a hollow sleeve surrounding said first drive shaft, anda flexible connection between said second drive shaft, said agitator andsaid basket.

18. A spinner basket mounted on a joint that deters tilting movementwhile at rest, a drive shaft, an agitating mechanism on said driveshaft, said agitating mechanismbeing mounted within said basket, saidbasket and the agitating mechanism being adapted to spin on extractionof water, the basket and the agitating mechanism rotating in unison sothat there is no mechanical interference between the two. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 333,328 Peare Dec. 29, 1885 1,952,574 Adams Mar.- 27, 19342,145,453 Miller Jan. 31, 1939 2,215,288 Hays Sept. 17, 1940 2,267,786Chayie Dec. 30, 1941 2,269,190 Dunham Jan. 6, 1942 2,302,012 Dyer Nov.17, 1942 2,363,184 Jacobs Nov.-21, 1944 2,453,367 Giblin Nov. 9, 1948

